Spinning ring



Sept. 9, 1958 A. J. WAYSON SPINNING RING Filed Jan. 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheetl fawezafoatflndflew J I i @933 Sept. 9, 1958 A. J. WAYSON SPINNING RING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1955 J1 We) J Wyyzson,

United States Patent SPINNING RING Andrew J. Wayson, Needham, Mass., assignor to Merriman Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,193

1 Claim. (Cl. 57-120) This invention relates to spinning and. twisting rings such as are employed in the production of textile yarns and threads.

More particularly this invention pertains to spinning and twisting rings on the self-lubricating type and constitutes an improvement upon rings formed of oil-absorbent material such as powdered and sintered metal.

One object of this invention is to provide a ring which can be manufactured more rapidly and with less cost than other porous rings heretofore available.

Another object is to provide a self-lubricating ring of simple construction which is so designed that the heat generated by the traveler will cause the oil to pass readily through the porous ring almost immediately upon the commencement of movement by the traveler.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of ring constructed according to the present invention, the ring being shown mounted in the ring rail with a spinning and twisting frame;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a second form of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a third form of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of a fourth form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 of a fifth form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a sixth form of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a seventh form of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of an eighth form of the present invention.

Before describing the various embodiments of the present invention it is to be understood that the term spin ning ring is employed hereinafter for convenience and that it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to twisting rings as well.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 2 designates a ring rail provided with a series of openings 4 (only one of which is shown) for receiving spinning ring assemblies. The numeral 6 refers generally to a preferred type of spinning ring assembly constructed according to this invention.

The spinning ring assembly 6 comprises a ring holder 8 having a large extended portion 10 provided with a Well or reservoir 12 for storing a limited supply oflubricant. The lubricating oil is replenished in the well through a supply opening 18 which can be opened for refilling by depressing a spring loaded valve button 14.

A spring 16 urges the button upwardly to close off the supply opening 18. Formed integral with extension 10 s an outstanding ear '20. A second outstanding ear 22 is also provided. Both ears are slotted to receive screws or bolts 24 and 26 respectively which secure the assembly to ring rail 2. The interior of ring holder 8 is machined to present three cylindrical surfaces 28, 30 and 32 of successively greater diameters and two annular shoulder surfaces 34 and 36. Supported by ring holder 8 is a ring member 40 made from a suitable porous material such as a powdered and sintered metal. A conventional traveler 42 is loosely carried by the ring 40 so that it will move freely around the ring.

Ring 40 has two exterior flanges 44 and 46 which are supported by shoulders 34 and 36 respectively of the ring holder. The peripheral edges of flanges 44 and 46 are machined to make a tight fit with cylindrical surfaces 28 and 30. The exterior dimension of ring 40 is machined so that it will snugly or frictional engage cylindrical surface 32 of the ring holder.

When the ring is mounted in the ring holder, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an annular chamber 48 is formed between the ring and annular surface 30 of the holder, the top and bottom of the chamber being defined by flanges 44 and 46 of the ring respectively. Preferably the ring is undercut at 50 intermediate flanges 44 and 46 so that its thickness intermediate said flanges is as thin as possible so as to assure that the oil contained in chamber 48 supplied thereto from reservoir 12 will exude through the wall more rapidly as heat is generated by the traveler flying around the ring. An incidental, but

byno means unimportant, advantage of undercutting the ring at 50 is that the chamber 48 is made larger thereby permitting a greater quantity of lubricant to be stored between the ring and the holder at any one time.

In order that the lubricant within the chamber 48 will not leak by way of the joint between the ring and the ring holder, it is contemplated to calk the joints with a suitable sealing compound as at 52 and 54. In order to be elfectivethe sealing compound must be oil resistant and be sufliciently pliable to be easily applied to the crevices formed between the ring and the holder. A sealing compound having an oil resistant synthetic rubber base has been found satisfactory for this purpose. To facilitate sealing, the holder and ring are beveled slightly so as to provide substantially V-shaped channels at 52 and 54 into which the sealing compound may be more readily applied and retained.

It is believed clear that in operation the traveler, as it travels at high speed around the ring, picks up the oil that exudes through the porous structure of the ring from the chamber 48 and distributes it axially along the inner wall of the ring so as to provide improved lubrication for the portions of the traveler that engage the ring.

Not only is the above described ring assembly self-v lubricating to a more than satisfactory degree, but in addition it is easy to manufacture and capable of prolonged use without excessive wear. It is notable that by making the ring and ring holder of the shape and. configuration illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, manufacture and assembling of the units is facilitated with a conse quent reduction in mass of the assembly. The ring holder may, for example, be die cast of a suitable substantially non-porous material while only the ring is molded from the powdered and sintered metal. An advantage of the illustrated construction is that the ring may be molded with ease since the annular chamber between the ring and holder is formed only after the two elements are assembled, as shown. A further advantage is that the need of. a wick is eliminated since the inner vertical wall of the oil chamber 48 is the exterior surface 50 of the ring.

Fig. 3 shows a second form of the invention. The

assembly of Fig. 3 comprises a ring holder 102 which is adapted to be secured to a ring frame 104 in the same manner as the ring holder of Figs. 1 and 2. In this case, however, the ring holder is characterized by two flange portions 104 and 106 whose inner peripheries are inclined in the shape of a cone. The two flanges are spaced from each other by a cylindrical portion 108. Supported on the inclined or conical faces of flanges 104 and 106 are flanges 110 and 112 of a ring 114. The edges of flanges 110 and 112 are machined at an angle so as to closely engage the conical surfaces presented by flanges 104 and 106. As is readily observed the ring holder 102 and ring 114 when assembled as described form an annular chamber 116 similar to chamber 48 in Fig. 2. The wall thickness of ring 114 intermediate its flanges 110 and 112 is reduced in order to improve the capillary flow of oil through the ring. Sealing compound is applied at 118 and 119 to prevent oil leakage from chamber 116. Fig. 4 illustrates a third form of the present invention. In this case holder 120 comprises two inner circular flanges 122 and 124 spaced from each other. The upper surface of flange 122 is grooved to receive peripheral lip 128 of flange 126 of ring 130. The upper surface of bottom flange 124 is similarly grooved to receive flange 132 of ring 130. Flanges 122, 124, 126 and 132 cooperate to define an annular chamber 134 for storing a limited supply of lubricant to which is exposed the exterior surface of ring between flanges 126 and 132. The chamber is protected against leakage by a sealing compound applied at 136 and 138 as shown.

Fig. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment wherein the ring holder 144 is grooved to provide a flange 146 and a shoulder 148. Ring 150 is provided with a peripheral flange 152 that rests upon flange 146. A second peripheral flange 154 has a conical depending skirt 156 which is integral with an annular portion 158 that rests upon holder 148.

In this embodiment the annular chamber 160 for lubricant is formed almost entirely by the peripheral portions of ring 150, a minor portion being formed by shoulder 148 of the ring holder. A sealing compound at 161 and 162 prevents leakage from chamber 160.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a fifth embodiment that is distinguishable from the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, by virtue of the fact that the ring holder 164 is formed in sections 166 and 168 joined at the diametrically opposite positions 170 and 171 by means of a suitable sealing compound. The ring holder as seen in Fig. 7 comprises two semi-circular portions 174 and 175 rising from the flanges 177 and 179 of the sections 166 and 168 respectively and provided with upper and lower inturued flanges 176 and 178 divided at 170 and 171.. Ring element 180 has two continuous flanges 182 and 184 on its exterior. Flange 184 rests upon the split flange 178 and flange 182 rests upon the split flange 176. The two units are sealed to each other by suitable sealing compound at and 192 to form an oil chamber 194 therebetween, and the joints between the ends of the two halves of portions 174 and 175 are similarly sealed with compound.

Fig. 8 discloses another embodiment similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7, but differs therefrom in that the two peripheral flanges 200 and 204 of ring 206 fits between the flanges 208 and 210 of the ring holder 212. The chamber 214 formed between the ring and the ring holder is increased by undercutting the exterior surface of the ring 206 between its flanges 200 and 204. By virtue of the interlocking arrangement illustrated in Fig. 8 it is apparent that the ring holder 212 must be formed in two halves in the same manner that the ring holder 164 illustrated in Fig. 6 is constructed. In this construction, the engaging elements are sealed at 211 and 213 by sealing compound.

Figs. 9 and 10 are additional modifications which are made feasible by virtue of the fact that the ring holders 240 and 260 are formed in two sections in the same way that the ring holder 164 of Figs. 6 and 7 is formed. In Fig. 9 the ring 242 has two exterior flanges 244 and 246 which are received and supported within two grooves 248 and 250 formed on the inner surface of ring holder 240. The joint formed between the two halves of the ring holder 240 and the flanges 244 and 246 is sealed by suitable sealing compound as illustrated at 252 and 254.

In Fig. 10 the ring holder 260 is provided with interior flanges 262 and 264 which engage shoulders 266 and 268 formed by making a groove in the exterior surface of ring 270. The two elements are sealed to each other at 272 and 274, as illustrated, to prevent the escape of lubricant from the chamber formed between the holder and the ring.

From the foregoing description it is believed apparent that the manufacture of ring assemblies has been improved to the extent that desirability and reliability of performance, economy of material and labor and simplification of design have been extended without diminishing any of the advantages of constructing spinning rings of powdered and sintered material.

In each of the foregoing embodiments it will be noted that the oil channel contains at least one joint positioned below the oil level, which joint is sealed by sealing compound. This construction runs contrary to current practice in this field, but has been found warranted in view of the ease of making the various elements. The rings and holders can be turned or die cast without great accuracy as the sealing compound will permanently and effectively close all joints from which oil could leak.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claim it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

I claim:

A spinning ring assembly comprising a ring holder member and -a traveler guiding ring member having an unbroken imperforate vertical cylindrical inner face and being in nesting and coaxial relation with said holder member, said ring member having an upper annular flange and a lower annular flange spaced vertically therefrom, said holder member having upper and lower circumferential flange supporting members, said upper flange resting on the said upper flange supporting member and said lower flange resting on the said lower flange supporting member thereby to define an annular chamber between said ring member and said holder member for storing a supply of fluid lubricant for said ring member, said lower flange supporting member being sealed to said ring member to prevent leakage of said lubricant, said ring member being made of porous material through which fluid lubricant from said chamber may pass to all portions of the ring member, that vertical portion of the ring member commencing at the under side of said upper annular flange and terminating at the upper side of said lower annular flange being of a uniform thickness substantially less than that normally required for proper traveler support and with the outer diameter of said vertical portion being substantially less than the outer diameter of the top and bottom portions of said ring member above and below said upper and lower flanges respectively thereby to maintain said lubricant in said chamber in close proximity to the inner face of said ring member so that said lubricant may pass in normal volume to said inner face sooner than if said vertical portion were the same thickness as the said top and bottom portions of said ring member upon the heating of said ring member by traveler action thereon and thereby to lengthen the life of said traveler,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Banfield June 25, 1935 Jerome Oct. 8, 1935 Platzer Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 9, 1931 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1932 France July 18, 1949 

